Tesla offers the Model S with two configurations: a 60kWh battery and EPA rated at 208 miles of range and the 85kWh battery rated at 265 miles. The 60kWh version starts at $71,070 and the 85kWh costs $81,070. There is also a performance version, P85+.

The top-of-the-line P85 comes with with 416 hp, 443 lb-ft of torque at 0 rpm, some handling tweaks, a jumbo 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack rated at 265 miles of range per charge, and a starting price $95,740.

In comparison, the BMW i8 is a plugin hybrid and it is offered only with one configuration.

BMW i8 uses a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a turbocharged three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and BMW eDrive technology in the form of an electric drive system. The 1.5-liter combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels of the BMW i8, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric drive sends its power to the front wheels and allows an all-electric range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).

how exactly is the i8 a ‘better car’? And the CR review just said the steering wasn’t great on the BMW. So how is it a ‘driver’s car’ either? Seems like you have never driven either one. Hard to make that statement.

I own a Tesla and I have driven an i8. The i8 is flashier, burns gas, and has fake engine noise. Gimmicky at best.

I did drive both, and for me, the tesla is just too heavy compared to the i8. I dont mind the engine noise, and the steering is fairly precise, better than on the Tesla, but I feel almost nothing with both. The i8 is also a lot more rapid and gives you the feel of being in a go kart. And I dont know if that was an issue with mine or that this is normal, the power delivery is very unpredictable, sometimes when I step on the pedal, it gives me full thrust, sometimes it gives me almost nothing.

OK, agreed that the Tesla is heavier. It also SEATS 7 (5+2). It should be much heavier than the i8 obviously. But ‘better car’ implies a lot of things. Performance is not a big difference it seems (and wait until P85D hits the streets), yet you’re really comparing two completely different species of car. I think that performance, utility, and safety all go together into that statement of ‘better car’. There’s no contest there – Tesla wins easily.

This is not even comparing Apples to Oranges this is Apples to Bowling balls. They are in completely different price ranges, have completely different functions ,one is all electric the other hybrid, one seats 5+2 with TWO TRUNKS…the other can barely hold a Tennis racket.

But as I said below the i8 looks better than a Ferrari which costs 400k new AND HAS FRIKKIN LASERS FOR HEADLIGHTS. The i8 is supercar looks and bleeding edge technology for Porsche/BMW money.

The i8 will surely be suspect to criticism until, as stated in the video, proven through time. There is not an exact spot, or category (aside from ‘a hybrid’) to place it in. They’re introducing new technology to a new market. It’s easy to be critical against something completely new and foreign without having a parallel product to compare it to.